Since March, The Stelter Company has been polling nonprofits across the country that have established planned giving programs to learn how the pandemic is affecting their efforts. Last week, we released our Planned Giving Pulse Survey #2, which captures the latest impact on nonprofit marketing programs, job stability and planned giving budgets nationwide. The results are both inspiring and sobering. Continue reading Stelter Planned Giving Pulse Survey #2: 3 Uplifting Discoveries That Made Us Smile→

Last week, many fundraisers from across the country gathered in the comfort of their own homes and logged in to the first virtual ACGA Conference. The COVID-19 pandemic was top of mind and a common thread in many presentations. Speakers looked to past pandemics and economic downturns for guidance on what charitable giving will look like this year, addressed current concerns and looked to the future. Here are a few key takeaways from Stelter’s Executive Vice President Jeremy Stelter and Senior Gift Planning Consultant Lynn Gaumer, J.D. Continue reading Key Takeaways From the First-Ever Virtual ACGA Conference→

Our partnership with nearly 1,500 nonprofits involves helping them educate donors about planned giving and offering donors the opportunity to act on making a planned gift easily. And while it is extremely important to stay top-of-mind with your donors during this time, we know that in the current environment this messaging needs to change. You must pivot to a message of stewardship. Reviewing stewardship campaigns Stelter has produced for our clients over the past year, there are three things in common that helped lead to their success. Continue reading 3 Must-Haves for Stewarding Donors Successfully→

Face-to-face donor meetings are on an indefinite hold—which means major and planned gift officers across the country are finding themselves grounded from the thing they love to do most. So where do you go from here, to continue to engage your portfolio, extend your donor discovery or even identify new individuals for cultivation? Continue reading 3 Tips on How to Engage Donors When Face-to-Face Isn’t Possible→

When you were younger, did you ever dream of becoming an astronaut? Perhaps you wanted to boldly go where no person had gone before, which makes sense as you eventually landed on fundraising. But did you ever give any thought to the fact that astronauts spend extraordinary amounts of time inside? A situation many of us are finding ourselves in right now. Here are my three key takeaways from an astronaut and isolation expert:Continue reading Tips on Isolation From Someone Who Couldn’t Go Outside→

With our world upside down and events all around us being canceled, new opportunities to share and connect are emerging. Earlier this week, nearly 1,000 fundraisers gathered around their own respective viewing devices for the first-ever AFP ICON VIRTUAL Conference—including Danny Herzberg, Stelter Regional Account Representative. I sat down with Danny to hear his biggest takeaways from the conference. Continue reading 3 Themes From the First-Ever AFP ICON VIRTUAL Conference→

Right now, and over these next few months, your priority isn’t stewarding gifts. It’s stewarding people. Your people—donors, volunteers, board members and those who’ve shown they care about you and what you do—are in need of connection and community. Stay relevant and purposeful with these stewardship suggestions: Continue reading Why Now Is the Right Time to Steward Your Donors→

The president has signed into law the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. This is designed to help taxpayers, businesses and nonprofits facing economic hardship in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic and economic downturn. Here are several key provisions of the CARES Act that relate to the nonprofit sector: Continue reading [FREE DOWNLOAD] Let Your Donors Know About the New Tax Incentives→

On March 12, we stopped the Stelter presses (the literal print presses as well as the email queue) and attacked the virus with the weapons we had on hand—creativity and thoughtfulness. (Plus our guts, we always trust our guts.) As we dug in, we spotted words, images and calls to action that had changed meaning. Here’s what we found. Continue reading Lessons From the Coronavirus War Room→

For me, the year 2020 represents clear vision. In that spirit, I’ve compiled a list of the blogs you all loved most in 2019. Perhaps these ideas can help inform your 2020 marketing plans, and make it the best year yet. Continue reading Best of 2019→

Talking with board members about fundraising can be a tricky proposition. Come in heavy-handed and they might run for the exit; don’t give enough of a push and they could lose accountability.
But board participation in fundraising is more than an extra “nice” that they can do. It’s imperative.Continue reading How To Get Your Board on Board With Fundraising→

Fundraisers, marketers and nonprofit professionals converged in Washington, D.C. last week…and for once it wasn’t to lobby. The Bridge Conference was an educational gathering with tracks on content marketing, peer-to-peer fundraising, stewardship, acquisition and more. Today I’m here to share the ideas that sparked for me. Continue reading 7 Ideas Nabbed from the Bridge Conference→

Staying out of the spam folder can be a challenge. With 14.5 billion spam messages sent per day globally, email service providers are working harder than ever to have emails arrive in inboxes. Discover how to increase your email deliverability to your donors. Continue reading How to Get Your Emails Into Your Donor’s Inbox→

A friend of mine, a retired hospice-facility fundraiser, recently made a sizable gift to a local women’s shelter. But she never received an acknowledgment or thank you. She was even told, “No thanks, we’ve got it covered,” when she volunteered to write their thank you notes. Needless to say, she’s hesitant to go any furtherContinue reading How to Cultivate Donor Loyalty: 5 Marketing Tips→

Earlier this year, I shared the primary three stages of the donor journey. Today, I’m back with the final two stages. As you may recall, the donor’s journey starts off similarly to the buyer’s journey—but can conclude with two additional destinations: donation and believer. Your nonprofit’s ultimate goal is to help your donors reach theContinue reading What Kind of Donor Journey Are You Delivering?→

In her continuing series, we welcome special guest, Stelter Editorial Director, Katie Parker. Marketing is piquing interest, evoking emotion, triggering response. It’s about making something that you do relevant to them (better yet, it’s listening to their needs and answering them with your product). At the core of marketing your service is compelling copy. Here areContinue reading The 5 Questions You MUST Answer in Your Copy→

The simple answer is yes. If you haven’t heard already, the donor pyramid that many of us have come to know, has changed—and perhaps is even dead. (R.I.P.) Now, if that’s the case, what kind of journey are donors experiencing today? And, more importantly, how do we engage them? First, let’s cover why the donorContinue reading Is the Donor Pyramid a Thing of the Past?→

With every marketing piece that we encounter—an email on our phone, an envelope in our mailbox, a post on our Facebook wall—we ask, Is this worth my time? The fact that you’re reading these words implies that you likely did all the following: Opened an email or stumbled upon a social media post from TheContinue reading How to Make Them Care: Inspire Donors Through Storytelling→

Today we welcome a special guest author to the blog: Cathy R. Sheffield, CAP®, CFRE, CSPG, FCEP, ThinkGiving President and Thompson & Associates Vice President. Cathy is here to share 10 things that you can do right now to start creating your legacy. Cathy is a fundraising executive with 25-years experience, specializing in major gifts and giftContinue reading How to Plant the Seed to Create a Legacy→

“A rising tide lifts all boats.” -John F. Kennedy Historically, this phrase was used referring to the economy. Today, I can’t help but apply it to our fundraising world, in that a good outcome—and good information—benefits us all. (This logic is a large part of why we’ve provided our research and webinars free of chargeContinue reading 10 Fundraising Blogs (And a Few Podcasts) You’ll Love→

In her continuing series, we welcome special guest, Stelter Editorial Director, Katie Parker. The classic call to action is “Buy Now!”. This slick phrase hits all the high notes: It’s urgent, clear, actionable and succinct. Every day your donors are bombarded by interruptive marketing and plenty of attempts to call their attention to a brand’s desiredContinue reading Avoid These! 10 Mistakes in Calls to Action→

We all have a tendency to gravitate toward the latest shiny new thing. Today’s technologies ring a shiny bell? While it’s true that technology has enabled us to target communications with donors and prospects in ways we never thought possible, even a few short years ago, they can overwhelm. Then we throw out the shinyContinue reading How to Meet Your Donors & Prospects Where They Are→

New year, new trends. Early on last year, we called out some 2018 planned giving marketing trends. And we’re back to do it again. So, what’s in store for planned giving in 2019? 1. The Donor Journey The idea of a journey is not new, but returning your focus to this simple methodology could be aContinue reading Planned Giving Trends to Watch this Year→

We are back. After a long holiday weekend, recharging with family and friends, I hope you are feeling ready to take on 2019.

Now, I could talk about how yet another year has come and gone all too quickly. I could talk about how much we’ve learned and how our industry has changed over the course of 2018, which is all important. But today, I’d rather show you […] Continue reading Top 3 Webinars of 2018→

The season of giving and receiving is here. Instead of wrapped gifts and glad tidings, however, let’s reflect on the season in a way that speaks to our business. The reciprocal nature of giving and receiving with donors, of building relationships with them that last throughout every season and through the years. The Fundraising EffectivenessContinue reading The 3 Things Your Donors Really Want→

Today we welcome back a special guest on the blog: Stelter’s Senior Technical Consultant, Lynn Gaumer, J.D. Lynn returns to share a special IRA update. When it comes to marketing the IRA charitable rollover, is January the new December? Christopher Hoyt, Professor of Law at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Law, seems toContinue reading What You Need to Know About IRAs Right Now→

As each year new year approaches, I like to review the last 12 months: the successes, the learning opportunities and everything in between. Then, I try to determine a theme for that year. When reflecting on 2018, the word “change” comes to mind. Changes in the industry, from tax reforms to charitable gift annuity rates.Continue reading Best of 2018→

We’ve all heard the phrase, ”Don’t put all your eggs in one basket!” The meaning behind this old saying: Don’t put all your efforts into one thing because you could lose everything else—and be left with nothing altogether. The same logic applies to fundraising. While we at Stelter spend majority of our time in theContinue reading How to Fill Your Baskets with Funding Support→

Last Friday was Black Friday, perhaps you’re familiar with it. It’s a day dedicated to saving money. (As a nonprofit officer you’ve probably made an art of this.) While I stayed out of the stores, it did get me thinking. What are some more ways nonprofits can save? Like where I’m headed? I thought youContinue reading How to Save Your Nonprofit Money with Plannual Giving→

Hard to believe we’re two days away from Thanksgiving. Your office chatter, like ours, has probably temporarily turned from planned giving to potlucks. Whether you’re enjoying goodies or tying up plans for Giving Tuesday: Press pause and give thanks to those who support your nonprofit’s works through every season. We’re not talking anything big hereContinue reading [FREE IMAGES] Last-Minute Ways to Thank Your Donors→

Today we welcome back a special guest on the blog: Stelter’s Senior Technical Consultant, Lynn Gaumer, J.D. Lynn returns to provide us with steps you can take to collect IRA proceeds. Naming a charity as a beneficiary of an IRA is easy… Collecting the proceeds is harder. Charitable organizations often highlight the ease and flexibilityContinue reading [FREE DOWNLOAD] How to Collect IRA Proceeds→

Have you heard? The kindness is catching, and it’s going global. Knowing you, my planned giving friends, you’re already committing random acts of kindness daily. It’s who you are and what you’re inclined to do, especially in the realm of nonprofit work. The good news is that we’re taking it to the streets: World KindnessContinue reading 3 Ways to Thank Your Supporters on World Kindness Day→

This year, Giving Tuesday lands on November 27. Is your calendar marked? More importantly, does your nonprofit have a plan in place? If you’re still in the “planning to plan” phase, don’t sweat. It’s never too late to put together a Giving Tuesday strategy. (That being said, it’s never too early to start organizing aContinue reading How You Can Make the Most of Giving Tuesday→

Is mailing in December a nonprofit do or don’t? Traditionally, sending direct mail in December has been viewed as less-than-ideal in the nonprofit industry. The logic behind this was simple. Donors most likely just donated their year-end gifts—not to mention the added financial strain of the holidays. The assumption: No one wants to think aboutContinue reading Why You Need to Hit Your Donor’s Mailbox First Thing in 2019→